An anxiety disorder may also be diagnosed if you have general feelings of fear or worry that interfere with your daily life and have lasted at least six months.

Most people with an anxiety disorder have a combination of physical and psychological symptoms.

There is one symptom that all anxiety disorders have in common: near-constant fear or worry about things that may happen to you now or in the future. Read on to learn what the symptoms are and how to diagnose anxiety disorders.

What Are the Symptoms of Anxiety or Panic Attacks?

What we think of as anxiety attacks are actually panic attacks. A panic attack is the sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort that peaks after about ten minutes, and it typically lasts no longer than 30 minutes. (1, 2)

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, (3) it also involves four or more of the following symptoms:

Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)

Fear of losing control or “going crazy”

Fear of dying

Researchers think that panic attacks come about because the brain is telling the body that the fight-or-flight response, which includes a rapid heartbeat and shallow breathing, should kick in, even though there may be no threat at all. Scientists also theorize that the amygdala, which is the brain's fear processing hub, may also be activated during a panic attack. (4)

Panic attacks may come on because of a particular event, or they may come on for no reason at all. It's been estimated that almost 23 percent of people will have at least one panic attack in their lifetime. (5)

If your panic attacks are recurring, you are likely to be diagnosed with panic disorder. Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that’s characterized by persistent worry about future panic attacks or their consequences.

Noah Clyman, a licensed clinical social worker and director of NYC Cognitive Therapy, a private psychotherapy practice in Manhattan, New York, says that panic attacks do not have to be feared. "By learning to correctly interpret bodily sensations and not relate to them as dangerous," he says, "your fear level can go down."

Researchers are not sure why anxiety and conditions like these occur together, but one explanation may be that the stress of dealing with a chronic illness could contribute to developing a mood disorder.

It could also be that anxiety is a precursor to the kind of cognitive decline at the center of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

It's been estimated that anxiety disorders are present in 5 to 21 percent of those with dementia (Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia). (6)

In a Swedish study of twins, which was published in April 2015 in Alzheimer's and Dementia, researchers found that higher levels of anxiety was associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. (7)

A study of more than 12,000 adults published in October 2017 in Aging and Mental Health found that anxiety, along with depression and sleep disturbances, was associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease. (8)

Researchers believe that the stress hormone cortisol may be at work in this connection. Whenever you become anxious or stressed, you induce a flood of the stress hormone cortisol, and it may be that a consistent presence of the hormone may damage parts of the brain that process memory and executive functioning.

It's important to see your doctor if any changes in your mood or health are concerning you. Your doctor can help you determine what disorder or medical condition you may be suffering from, and what assistance you might need.

How Is Anxiety Disorder Diagnosed?

Here's what you might be able to expect when you visit your doctor:

Your doctor or nurse will ask you questions about your symptoms.

Your doctor may perform a physical exam and order lab tests to rule out other health problems.

If no other health problems are found, your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to make a diagnosis.

A psychiatrist or psychologist will identify the specific type of anxiety disorder that's causing your symptoms.

This doctor will also look for any other mental health conditions that you may be experiencing, including depression.